West Orange engineer builds a bigger business

Dennis Petrocelli of West Orange is senior vice president of Matrix New World Engineering, based in East Hanover

Dennis Petrocelli’s company started in a spare bedroom. Now the East Hanover-based business has a staff of about 75 people, with other offices in Trenton, Delaware and Phoenix, Ariz.

Petrocelli is senior vice president of Matrix New World Engineering.

The company has been in business for 20 years, providing multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consulting services to both the private and public sectors. Most recently, it deployed experts to the Gulf of Mexico to contribute to spill-containment and wildlife rescue operations. They have been working in command centers in Mobile, Ala., and Houma, La.

Petrocelli, a West Orange resident, spoke to The Star-Ledger about the engineering industry.

Q. How did you get into this field?

A. I graduated with a double major in economics and geology. I wanted to pursue a career as a mining and energy analyst on Wall Street when I graduated but there were no jobs available at the time. Out of the blue, I received a call from a school friend telling me his engineering firm was looking to hire a geologist — and that is where I got my start as an engineering and environmental geologist.

Q. How did Matrix get involved in efforts in the Gulf of Mexico?

A. I would like to say it was the result of careful and precise planning, but its really serendipitous. In March, I hired a key individual to market our services to the spill industry. This particular person had 30 years of experience in the spill arena and fantastic industry contacts.

Within a couple of weeks of his hiring, the gulf spill occurred. And because of the relationships of our key person, we were brought into the project very early on.
We currently have approximately 50 people working in some capacity on the project and anticipate having them on the job for several more months.

Q. What advice would you offer an entrepreneur in your industry?

A. Create a plan. Have a road map and be prepared to deviate to meet changing conditions... and have plenty of financial support.